Float boat



y 1970 P. L. TAILER 3,513,494

FLOAT BOAT oct. 71 2 sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.I

FIG. 2

F IG. 3 INVENTOR;

PETE R L. TAILER May 26, 1970 P. 1.. TAILER 3 9 FLOAT BOAT Filed, om. 7. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 387 INVENTOR:

62 FIG. ll

United States Patent 3,513,494 FLOAT BOAT Peter L. Tailer, 323 E. 17th St., New York, N.Y. 10003 Filed Oct. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 774,566 Int. Cl. B63b 7/00 US. C]. 92 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A watercraft has a frame with sides formed as beams to resist longitudinal bending, deck elements joining the lower portions of the beams, a box structure extending between the sides locking the sides against relative motion, and flotation fixed below the deck members.

Background of the invention Inflatable boats lack rigidity and ruggedness and are comparatively expensive to fabricate although they are seaworthy, light in weight, and collapsable. Conventional boats with watertight hulls are heavy, costly, and cannot be disassembled. This invention provides a unique watercraft with the advantages of both inflatable and conventional hulls along with many other advantages heretofore unobtainable. 7

Summary of the invention A watercraft has a frame with sides, preferably formed at least partially as open work truss beams, which serve as side railings and which prevent longitudinal bending. The beams or sides are joined by transverse deck members which may be used, with the beams, to support a light deck in tension. A box structure, with open work or sheet sides and preferably of square or triangular section, extends between the beams to secure them against relative motion and lock the entire frame structure of the watercraft into a rigid unit. Light weight floats, which are preferably inflatable, are fixed below the deck members.

If the beams and the box structure of the frame are formed of tubular elements or partially of thin sheet mate rial, they will provide a very light and strong frame structure which may have high buoyancy light floats, which lack structural strength of their own, attached thereunder. If four or more floats are disposed longitudinally side by side to extend completely under the area of the frame structure, exceptional buoyancy will result and the failure of a single float will not incapacitate the watercraft. If such longitudinal floats are inflatable, they need only be lengths of suitable tubular material sealed at both ends'and having provision forlow pressure, high volume inflation. Such inflatable floats may be very inexpensive.

The large deck area, light weight, large load carrying capacity, demountability, and extremely low cost of manufacture of the boat of this invention allow it to fill a unique position in the myriad of pleasure craft available.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 5 is a perspective view of fragments of the beams connected by deck members with deck panels shown fixed thereunder;

FIG. 6 is a side View of a fragment of a beam with deck panels shown fixed thereunder;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a fragment of a deck panel is lhowing cut outs to accommodate attachment means for oats;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a fragment of a deck panel showing float attachment means secured thereto;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a transom member;

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the transom member of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a float with attachment straps fixed thereto.

Description of the preferred embodiments As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the boat of this invention has a frame 19 with two sides formed as open work truss beams 20 and 21. Each side is formed with a bottom member 22 which is preferably demountable into two or more lengths. Four vertical uprights 23, 24, 25, and 26 extend upward from each bot tom member 22. The upper ends of 23 and 24 are connected by the horizontal top members 27. Uprights 24, 25, and 26 and the fronts of bottom members 22 are connected by the upper members 28. Rear members 29 extend from uprights 23 to the rear ends of bottom members 22. Diagonals 30, 31, and 32 complete the bracing of each truss beam 20 and 21.

Deck members 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37 connect the bottom members 22 at spaced intervals and transom 38 connects the rear ends of the truss beams 20 and 21. A pair of upper transverse members 39 and 40 join the tops of the pairs of uprights 23 and 24. Deck panels 41 and floats 42 are fixed under the deck members 33-37 and the truss beams 20 and 21 as will be later described. As a modification of this invention, the deck members 33-37 and the deck panels 41 may be combined as unitary deck elements which may or may not incorporate flotation.

While the truss beams 20 and 21 will individually resist all longitudinal bending, they may move longitudinally, vertically, or twist relative to each other. A box structure 18 consisting of a box structure of any prismatic shape extending between the truss beams 20 and 21 will lock them rigidly in relation to each other and thus render the frame 19 completely rigid.

The box structure 18 of the preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in FIG. 1 consists of a bottom formed by deck members 33 and 34 which, if not sufiiciently braced by the deck panels 41, may be braced by a diagonal 42'. The top of the box structure 18 is formed by the upper transverse members 39 and 40 and the pair of top members 25 braced by the diagonal 43. The front of the box structure 18 is formed by the pair of uprights 24, the upper transverse member 40, and deck member 34 braced by a pair of diagonals 44 in the form of an inverted V. The rear of the box structure 18 is formed by the upper transverse member 39, deck member 33, and the pair of uprights 23 braced by the pair of diagonals 45 in the form of a V.

This specific structure provides a very lightweight frame 19 which is completely rigid and exceptionally strong. It is to be noted that all the members of frame 19, except when walked upon or subjected to like direct stresses, are only subjected to longitudinal loads of tension and compression and are not subjected to any twisting or bendmg.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be shown how the members of frame 19 may be demountably assembled if frame 19 is made from aluminum tubing. Clearance bored castings 50 are slipped over and spaced along tubes 51 and secured in place by an epoxy cement which provides a very strong joint due to the large bonding area. Pairs of tabs 52 and 53 receive the ends of members therebetween to be secured by bolts and nuts (not shown) or other pin fasteners. As shown in FIG. 4A, the ends 55 of members to be fixed between tabs 52 or 53 may have a reinforcing collar 56 epoxy cemented therein. An aperture 57 receives the bolt or other pin fastening used to assemble the frame 19.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6, light deck panels 41, preferably of M1 inch exterior grade plywood, are lashed together by lashings 58 some of which may extend over deck members to hold the deck panels 41 against them. As may be seen in FIG. 6, the rearward edge of each deck panel 4?. should lap below the front edge of the deck panel 41 adjacent to it. The sides of the deck panels 41 are lashed to side members 22 by lashings 59'. These lashings 59, which pass through apertures 60 in deck panels 41, hold the deck panels 41 tension so that a relatively light deck will support a heavy load. Since a considerable rearward pull is exerted on the front deck member 37, front braces 61 are best provided.

As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, a transom 38 has a wood motor board 61 which is deeper in its center 62 to resist downward flexing and receive an outboard motor 18'. A heaver rear deck section 63 of inch plywood is joined to motor board 61 by angles 64 and by the center and outer brackets 65 and 66. The heavier deck section 63 is lashed to a narrower rearmost deck panel 41'. Motor board 61 and deck section 63 form a T shaped beam to resist tension applied as the deck panels are lashed in place.

Center brackets 65 extend below deck section 63 to receive the great torque exerted by an outboard motor. Brackets 66 are fixed to the rear ends of the bottom members 22 while the brackets 65 are fixed in two places to each of the two torque bars 68 shown in FIG. 1. These bars 68 receive a bending stress which is transmitted as an upward force on deck member 33. The braces 45 prevent any upward flexing of deck member 33 as well as forming the rear of the box structure 1-8. This construction allows the frame 19 of this invention to take the stresses which result from using a high horsepower outboard motor 18.

As shown in FIG. 12, the floats 42 are of tubular stock gathered and closed at their front ends 70. They are also gathered and closed about a tube 71 at their rear ends 72. If tube 71 is of flexible material, it should contain a stiffening bushing at 72 to prevent its being crushed by the means used to gather and clamp the rear ends of the floats. A number of securing straps 75 are fixed about each float 42 at spaced distances along its length. When floats 42 are inflated, they are stopped by inserting a plug in the end of their tubes 71. The tubes 71 may be led to the deck over transom 38 or through suitable apertures formed in deck section 63.

in the proximity of the deck members 33-36, the deck panels 41 contain cut outs as shown in FIG. 7 over each float 42. A large central opening 76 is flanked by slits 77 and 78. Adjacent openings 76 share a single wider slit 78 disposed between them. During assembly of the boat of this invention, the floats 42 are inflated and the deck panels 41 are placed on them. A hand may be reached through the openings 76 to push the straps or belts 75 through slits 77 and 78 to be fastened by buckle means 79 covering the openings 76 as shown in FIG. 8.

[The front gathers 70 of the floats 42 are lashed to front deck member 37. It is to be noted that frame 19 holds the deck panels 41 to slope upward at the front end so that the floats 42 will smoothly enter the water. Since the floats 42 have the deck panels 41 bear along their entire length, they may be inflated to relatively low pressures.

In one model of a boat built according to the preferred embodiment of this invention, 3 inch OLD. A inch wall aluminum tubing was used for frame 19 except for deck members 33-37, top members 39 and 40, braces 42. and 43, and torque tubes 68 which were 3 inch 0D. inch wall aluminum tubing. The boat was 20' feet long and 8 feet wide. The entire frame 19 with transom weighed 220 pounds, deck members of inch plywood weighed 110 pounds painted, and five floats 42 of tubular polyethylene weighed 70 pounds. Thus a float boat with more than 150 square feet of deck space weighed less than 400 pounds. This craft had 6,000 pounds of buoyancy and could safely sustain loads of over 2,500 pounds.

In operation, a canvas was lashed over diagonal 43 between top members 25 and-members 39 and 40. This provided shade with comfortable seating thereunder as uprights 23 and 24 were about 4. foot 6 inches high. Itv also provided a choice seatwith 32 square feet of additional deck space with a good vantage point which proved irresistible to children and others. I

Required gear, such as life jackets, was stored in two boxes 16 inches Wide, 4 foot 6 inches long, and 21 inches high. These boxes, which are not shown, spanned deck members 34 and 35 and provided seating space for passengers next to the side beams 20 and 21. This light, strong boat moved exceptionally fast with a 20 horsepower motor, could use a 3 horsepower motor'for'emergencies, and planed with five people using a 33 horsepower. motor. There is sufficient deck space to camp four people on this boat using many standard tents. A small tent can be erected for changing or for toilet facilities on all day trips.

This boat was easily assembled by one man in a few hours and, disassembled, required very little storage space. The boat was particularly safe as it remained operational with the deflation of any one of thefloats 42. On failure of a float 42, a new float can be pulled in place, attached, and inflated while in deep water without leaving the'boat. It is also safe as it can be beachedfusinga space float 42 as an air roller without damage ifdanger threatens The boat is substantially unsi'nkable' in the heaviest seas'as frame 19 presents little 'area to catch the wind andit's buoyancy lifts it over the larges t'wavesi Any water taken on deck immediately'runs off. I

. Finally, the boat of this invention is the; leastexpen'sive boat for its capacity that has been offered for sale'up to this time. The frame may be fabricated as is aluminum scaffolding for very low cost. The deck' panels 41' require very little fabrication and thefloats may be made from in expensive tubular stock." Thus a boat similarto that de-' scribed as an example of this inventionmay be: made 'to sellfifor Well under $1,000.00 leaving-agood marginfor pro t. v

Referring now to FIG; 2, a second embodiment of this invention has two truss side beams .80 and 8l-zeachhaving a bottom member 82, uprights 83, 84, .85, and '86, top member 87", rear member. 88,- and diagonals 89; 90," and 91. These truss beams and 81are joined by transom 92, deck members 93, 94, 95, 96, and 97 andthe: transverse top member 98. Y I

A. box structure which is a triangular prism renders the entire frame rigid; This'box structure has a bottom formed by the deck members 93 and Hand the-diagonal brace 99.- The rear of the box structure is formedby top-member 98, deck member 93, and the braces 100"which"form' aninverted V. The third, orrearwardly sloping front side: of the triangular box structure-is. formed by "deck beam 94; top member 98, and the braces10 1. Deck panels '41 and floats 42complete this embodiment ofthe inventionawhich has arigid and light framework. r i

FIG. 3 shows athird embodiment ,of this-invention-"in which sidetruss beams 110. and. 111 each-xhaveea: :botfom member 112, uprights 113,114, 115, and- 116, 'a-r'earmem; ber 117, a top member 118, a from member 119; and diagonals 120, 121,. and 122.?These 'lowttruss beamsjiflfi and 111 are joined-bytransom-124 and deck-flmemb'e rs. 125, 126, 127, and-128'. A light -plywoo'd"bo'x1 1'30 is-fixed or clamped between the truss "1-10 "and-l'l lfthe box" 130 having a bottom, a top, sides, and ends to rigidly lock the truss beams 110 and 111 together. If openings are made in the top or another surface of box 130, they must not reduce the dimensional stability of that surface under stress or the box 130 will not lock the beams 110 and 111 together to provide a rigid frame. Properly designed, an entire float boat could be designed to be disassembled and stored in its box 130.

The Open work truss beam sides of all three embodiments of this invention could be made with thin sheet material if desired. While such construction couldbe very light, it would present a large surface to catch the wind. In addition, foam floats which lack suflicient structural rigidity to be self-supporting could be used in place of the inflatable floats 42. Foam floats would not be as light or as easily stored as inflatable floats. They would also be considerably more costly at this time.

While this invention has been shown and described in the best form known, it will nevertheless be understood that this is purely exemplary and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A float boat comprising, in combination, a frame having substantially vertical sides formed as beams to resist longitudinal bending and serve as side rails, said beams having lower portions extending the length of said frame, deck elements extending between said lower portions of said beams, a box structure extending between said beams locking said beams against relative motion and rendering said frame rigid, and flotation means disposed below said deck elements.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said deck elements comprise deck members extending between the lower portions of said beams, and deck panels secured by their outer edges between said deck members and said beams, said flotation means being longitudinal floats secured below said deck members and said deck panels.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said upstanding beams are at least partially formed as open work truss beams.

4. The combination according to claim3 wherein said frame holds said deck panels sloping upward at the front end of said float boat, said floats secured below said deck members and said deck panels being longitudinal, tubular, inflatable floats extending below the length of said frame, said deck panels sloping upward at the front end of said float boat having the front ends of said floats secured therebelow to be held upwards.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said box structure has at least two sides formed as open work truss structures.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said box structure is rectangular in longitudinal section.

7. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said box structure is triangular in longitudinal section.

8. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said box structure and said beams are formed entirely as open work truss structures.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said beams and said box structure are formed of structural elements at least some of which are demountably joined at their intersections.

10. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said frame is formed as an open work truss structure of structural elements at least some of which are demountably joined at their intersections.

11. A float boat comprising, in combination, a frame having sides formed as upstanding open work truss beams to resist longitudinal bending and serve as side rails, said beams each having a bottom member, said frame having deck members and a transom extending between the bottom members of said beams, deck panels forming a deck area held in tension by said bottom members, said deck members, and said transom, a box structure extending between said beams locking said beams against relative motion and rendering said frame rigid, and longitudinal floats disposed under said frame.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein the front of said bottom members of said beams slope upward raising the front of said deck panels, said floats being longitudinal, inflatable tubular floats extending the length of said float boat adjacent to each other and extending substantially entirely under the entire deck area of the float boat, the fronts of said tubular floats being secured against the raised front of said deck panels so that said floats make a gradual and smooth entry into the water.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said box structure is a rectangular box having sheet sides, said box extending between and being fixed to said beams.

14. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said box structure is an open Work truss structure which is triangular in longitudinal section.

15. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said beams have top members disposed above said bottom members, said frame has upper members extending between said top members, and said box structure is an open work structure rectangular in longitudinal section formed by bracing means disposed between said upper members and disposed between each of said upper members and one of said deck members.

16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said transverse upper members are disposed above a pair of adjacent deck members, said adjacent deck members having bracing means disposed therebetween.

17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein said bracing means disposed between said pair of adjacent deck members is one of said deck panels.

18. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said frame has torque bars extending from the central portion of said transom to the rearmost deck member, said box structure being formed between said rearmost deck member and one of said upper members disposed thereover, said bracing means disposed between said rearmost deck member and the upper member thereover being diagonal braces in the form of a V, said diagonal braces receiving forces transmitted as torque from said torque bars.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner 

